Abstract: To date, producing functional germline-competent embryonic stem cells（ESCs）has proven to be challenging in most livestocks, like pig, sheep, cattle et al. Induced pluripotent stem cell（iPSC）technique provides a feasible approach to establish pluripotent stem cells for a species in which ESCs have previously proven to be difficult to establish from the early embryo. Livestock iPSCs can offer a route to promote developmental biology research, obtain organs for xenotransplantation, establish animal models for human genetic disease, generate high quality and disease-resistant new breeds et al. The fundamental researches and address the perspectives of livestock iPSCs were reviewed.

Key words: Livestock breeding, Induced pluripotent stem cells, Embryonic stem cells